THE outgoing Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Eze Duruiheoma on Monday, called for an amendment of the census Act to make provision for the conduct of census every ten years in line with the United Nations (UN) recommendations.
Also, he advocated for a provision for annual incremental budgetary allocations for the next census immediately after the last, so as to reduce the financial burden of accommodating the huge census budget in a fiscal year.
Duruiheoma gave the recommendations at a valedictory service held for him at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The former Chairman, who, since his appointment in 2013 was unable to conduct the overdue census exercise, blamed this on lack of presidential proclamation for the census.
He also lamented a massive shortfall in funding during his tenure saying this adversely affected the implementation of the robust plans of the commission.
“The commission experienced a serious shortfall in funding throughout my tenure. It is obvious that census is the most complex and extensive statistical data gathering exercise any country can embark and it is capital intensive. The lack of adequate fundings for the key operations of the commission limited or completely stalled the implementation of the robust plans of the commission in meeting its mandate during my tenure,” he said.
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While describing this has a major challenge, he explained that the absence of proclamation for the census also limited supports from development agencies, who were willing to key into the Census project.
“Some major challenges experienced need mentioning. In addition to the paucity of funds, there were other challenges, for example, lack of federal government proclamation for the census to facilitate the buy-in of other stakeholders into the census project especially the development partners by supporting with funds and materials,” he explains.
In view of this, he stressed the need to set up machinery in motion to secure FG’s proclamation for the next census and increased funding to the commission.
Meanwhile, a top source in the commission had hinted that the Chairman did not receive the required supports from the current administration on reasons that he was appointed by an opposition party.
The source also alleged that this partly led to the funding constraints witnessed in the commission, as corroborated by the Chairman in his valedictory speech.
Duruiheoma who was appointed and confirmed by former President, Goodluck Jonathan is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain in Imo State.
He took over from former Chairman Mr Festus Odimegwu who in 2013, resigned his appointment.
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